Three Sure Things

[0:00] 1 John 5, verse 4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world.

[0:20] ! And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.

[0:34] Let us pray. Lord, we thank you for your word. It's precious, it's holy, we want to tremble at it. We want to take it in. Lord, let it work within. Help us, Lord, not to resist the working of your word into our hearts, that it might minister, it might bless, that it might convict and challenge and urge us on in that gospel race, Lord.

[0:53] Help us to take it in, to have ears to hear and hearts to respond and feet to walk in your way as you lead us, as you guide us from your word, we pray. Through your Holy Spirit's help, in Jesus' name, Amen.

[1:07] Please have a seat. I want to talk about three sure things. Three sure things in 1 John. 1 John 5.

[1:19] And we're living today, the world we're living in, it's uncertain times, isn't it? Uncertain times. I just heard about a factory in Salisbury that closed. I used to work at Bridgestone. I was one of the people working on the line.

[1:32] And then I got a promotion. I was the cleaner at the factory. You know, I got a day shift job. But there's uncertain times, isn't there? Uncertain times on the job front. Uncertain times in the world and pressures, the troubles that are all around us.

[1:47] Uncertainty about world pressures. Uncertainty about where to turn to for answers, for truth. Uncertainty about the supernatural and who to believe in.

[1:58] Even in churches today, people doubting, uncertain, lacking victory, lacking confidence, lacking faith. Uncertainty. John shows us three sure things that you can take heart in today.

[2:12] And we see there from verse 4 of chapter 5, this is the victory. This is the victory that overcometh the world.

[2:23] We're going to look at three. This is the victory. This is the record. And this is the confidence. Firstly, this is the victory. This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

[2:35] Who is he that overcometh the world? But he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.

[2:47] This is the conquest that conquers the world. This is the victory that overcomes the world. Many today are living defeated lives. Walking around in despair, in doubt, in defeat.

[3:01] Defeated. Defeated. Defeated by lack of power. Lack of fruit. Lack of faithfulness. Whatever happened to the victorious Christian life?

[3:14] The victorious Christian life. That is what we should be walking in. Our daily walk. Our day by day. Faith in Christ makes you an overcomer.

[3:25] Now, sometimes we don't feel like an overcomer. Sometimes we don't feel like we're overcoming. But do we have to feel like it? Or is it faith? It's faith, brother.

[3:36] It's faith, sister. That's what makes us overcome. Faith means victory over the world. Now, we're living in a world where we're bombarded constantly.

[3:47] Constantly bombarded by messages that are anti-God. Anti-God. In TV, in print media, in internet, billboards.

[4:00] Overwhelmed by these messages bombarding us constantly. It's a constant barrage, isn't it? Messages that are anti-God. It's like...

[4:12] It's a flow that you've got to swim against all the time, isn't it? It's a tide you've got to swim against all the time. But believe that your victory is a sure thing.

[4:23] It's sure. It's certain. Purchased by the blood of Christ. The victory that you have as you have faith in Christ. Victory. You've got victory.

[4:35] You can overcome the world. Overcome the world. The spirit of the world. The lust of the world. The fashion of the world. The philosophy of the world. The affection of the world.

[4:47] As a Christian. Man or woman. Young man, young woman. Older man, older woman. If you're a Christian.

[4:58] If you're a believer. If you have faith. The word says to you. This is a sure thing. This is the victory. This is the victory. It's a statement of fact.

[5:09] That you have overcome the world. And the puppet master really. The one who's pulling the strings behind the world scene. Is really and truly. The one called.

[5:20] The God of this world. And who's that? That ugly rotten stinker. The devil himself. He is the one. He's the God of this world. He's the one who's against us.

[5:33] And we've got to. Dig deep and press on. Love not the world. It says in 1 John 2.15. Neither the things that are in the world. As a Christian.

[5:43] The world. Loses its attraction. It doesn't have the same pull. It hasn't got the same. Magnetic. Attraction for you. When you're a Christian. It's.

[5:54] Something that hasn't got the same. Power over you. Because. You have Christ. You have faith. That's what makes the difference. And for whatsoever is born of God.

[6:06] Overcometh the world. Are you born of God? Are you born again? Amen. Are you born from above? Have you been born again? The new birth. That's what makes the difference.

[6:18] That which is born of God. Overcometh the world. And victory is possible. We see. Through the record of scripture. The many men and women of God. Of faith. Look at Hebrews 11.

[6:29] For example. Let that be your homework. To go and read Hebrews 11. Look through the. Names. The record. Of the. Men and women.

[6:40] Of character. Of faith. Sometimes not of. Entirely good character. But yet God. Blessed them. And used them. And amongst them. As Rahab the harlot.

[6:51] I mean. You couldn't get. A worse. Record on your CV. And then having that. But yet. She. Is counted as a hero. Of the faith. A heroine.

[7:02] Of the faith. One born. From a bath. By faith. By faith. By faith. Is the recurring theme. Of Hebrews 11. It's by faith. They overcame.

[7:12] The whole chapter. We can think of people like Daniel. And his three friends. They overcame. They remained true. To their faith. In Christ. Despite.

[7:24] The captivity. Despite. The influences. And pressures. That were against them. Their faith. In the saving. Grace of God. Remained strong.

[7:35] And true. They overcame. Gideon. Is another man. In the word of God. A young man. He remained faithful. To the Lord. Despite the circumstances. That were difficult.

[7:46] In Hebrews 11. He says. But out of weakness. He was made strong. Out of weakness. Made strong. Young men. Young women. Can be made strong.

[7:57] Through faith. Because they follow God's orders. Even though it might seem unreasonable. In Gideon's case. You know. It seemed unreasonable. What he was asked to do. And yet. He obeyed.

[8:08] And God blessed his faith. Who are you aligned with? Is it with the world? Are you aligned with the world? Is that what occupies you? And attracts you? And engages you?

[8:19] Or is it the Lord? Is it the things of God? Is it the things of faith? The things above? Our conversation is in heaven. Not the things on the earth. That we should be attracted to.

[8:31] But the things above. The things of heaven. And you can. Believer today. You may not feel like it. At times. And none of us. Always feel like it.

[8:42] But you can. Overcome. By faith. You can experience victory. After victory. After victory. Because faith. Is the victory.

[8:52] That overcomes the world. And our victory. It's a sure thing. This is the victory. John says. This is the victory. That overcomes the world.

[9:03] Faith can overcome. Seemingly insurmountable odds. Obstacles. Adversity. Persecution. You can overcome. I know I was blessed. Just yesterday.

[9:14] This conference meeting. I went to. And there was a preacher there. And he was blind. He was completely blind. He didn't.

[9:25] I noticed right through. All of his sermon. He never had to look down. At his notes. You know. He had them. He had them in braille. And he was. Just like that. You know.

[9:37] From the distance. You couldn't tell. That he was blind. But. You know. It was a blessing. It was quite a blessing. What he was talking about. And I thought. Wow. That's faith. Isn't it?

[9:48] That this man. And he was. A blessing. What he was. Preaching about. Teaching us about. The things of the family. At this conference. And just to watch him. As he was. Reading.

[9:59] With his fingers. And faith. Can overcome adversity. I know. There's another. Another sister. That was there. Profoundly deaf. And yet. A beaming face.

[10:10] And a love for the Savior. And we know. There's many in our number too. That have got various afflictions. And yet. The son. Is scarcely. Raise a whimper. And yet. They're in chronic pain. And it's faith.

[10:21] That sustains. Isn't it? It's faith. That overcomes. It's faith. That presses on. Regardless. Faith. Is the victory. That overcomes the world. I don't know if anyone's ever seen.

[10:32] The preacher. Nick Vukic. I'm not sure. Vukic. Or whatever. However you say it. But he's a man. And you can see. There's various videos of him. Maybe we could copy one. And put it on a DVD.

[10:42] To show people. But. He's just got a torso. And a little chicken leg. Sticking out. On his foot. Basically. It's just a foot. Not a leg.

[10:53] He's got no arms or legs. He's just got a little foot. Hanging off his torso. And he's a preacher of the gospel. Hallelujah. And it's a testimony. It's an amazing testimony. Of the grace of God.

[11:04] In a life. And how God. Can work wonders. Against all the odds. Against all the adversity. And if anyone would have. Reason to complain.

[11:14] Or feel sorry for themselves. Some. Such a man would. Or. Would have. Be justified. You would imagine. But yeah. What a testimony. What a.

[11:25] An amazing. Wonder. That God would work. In a life like that. It's faith. Is the victory. That overcomes the world. This is the victory. And secondly.

[11:36] This is the record. 5.11. 1 John 5.11. It says. And this is the record. That God had given to us. Eternal life.

[11:47] And this life is in his son. He that hath the son hath life. And he that hath not the son of God. Hath not life. These things have I written unto you.

[11:59] That believe on the name of the son of God. That you may know. That you have. Eternal life. And that you may believe. On the name.

[12:10] Of the son of God. This is. The record. This is. The authoritative. Testimony.

[12:22] The trustworthy statement. From. God almighty. In the word of God. It says of him. God cannot. Lie. This is truth.

[12:32] This is the record. Jesus Christ. Gives to us. Eternal. Life. Eternal.

[12:44] Life. Present. Tense. Possession. Guaranteed. It's in black and white. This is a legal document. It's the law of the Lord.

[12:57] Guaranteed. 100%. John 5.24. He says. Verily I say unto you. He that. Heareth my word. And believeth.

[13:08] On him that sent me. Ha. Ha. Everlasting. Life. And shall not. Come into condemnation. But.

[13:19] Is. Passed. From. Death. Unto. Life. A Greek.

[13:29] Expert. Expert. Puts it like this. He has been permanently transferred. Permanently transferred. Out from the sphere of death.

[13:42] Into. Life. It's a man called Woost. Transferred from. Permanently from. The sphere. Of death. Into.

[13:53] Life. There's a transfer. There's a transfer. It happens. When you trust him. There's a transfer. There's a. There's a bridge there that. Is walked over. From death. Unto life. And it's the cross.

[14:04] Isn't it? That makes that. Transfer. Possible. It makes that transaction. Possible. Makes that. Transfer. From death. To life.

[14:14] And this. Is the promise. That he hath promised us. Even. Eternal life. 1 John 2. 25. This is. The promise. That he has promised us.

[14:25] Eternal life. It's encouraging. And it should. Enhearten you. This morning. That. Your salvation. Is not based on your feelings. It's not based at all.

[14:35] On your feelings. Now. When you do trust him. I'd imagine. You do get a bit of a buzz. And a bit of a. Wow. But. It does not depend on the tingly feelings.

[14:45] Or the warm and fuzzies. You may not. Get. A light from heaven. But yet. If you trust him. You've got. Everlasting life.

[14:56] You have it. Present sense. Possession. It's not based on your feelings. Or your merits. Certainly not your merit. John 10. 27. The Lord Jesus.

[15:07] The good shepherd. He says. My sheep hear my voice. And I know them. And they follow me. And I give unto them. I give unto them. I give unto them. Eternal life.

[15:18] And they shall never perish. Neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My father which gave them me is greater than all. And no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand.

[15:31] Another scholar says of this. That John uses the double negative. The double negative. It's a very emphatic way of declaring that something will not happen in the future.

[15:43] Will never perish. Shall never perish. And worst again he says. They shall positively not perish. Never. They shall positively not perish.

[15:54] Never. That's pretty sure isn't it? Wouldn't you say that's a sure thing? Never. Never perish. Shall not positively. Shall positively not perish.

[16:04] Never. And when it says. My father which gave them me is greater than all. It's saying he gave them me as a permanent gift. That's the sense of the word again there. So there's a wonderful assurance believer today.

[16:17] If you're a believer today. There's a wonderful assurance that this is the record you have. Everlasting life. Eternal life. It's a permanent gift.

[16:28] You are a permanent gift of the father to the son. And you shall never perish. Positively not. Never. John 3.36 He that believeth on the son hath everlasting life.

[16:41] Again. Hath is a very strong present tense word. It means will have. It does not mean will have or might have. It literally means now having.

[16:53] Now having. When it says. He that believeth on the son hath everlasting life. It's saying that you have it. Present sense. In the here and now you possess it. It's a sure thing.

[17:04] Eternal life is a sure thing. And that enheartens me to think. When I trust him. There's a transaction made. That's eternal. There's a life received.

[17:14] That's everlasting. John 6.47 Verily, verily I say unto you. He that believeth on me. Hath everlasting life. Your eternal life is a sure thing.

[17:26] It's works free. It's independent of works. You can be saved 100% forgiven. Forever. Forever. You have the Bible's authority on it.

[17:37] God's word on it. This is good news. It's a record. This is the record. This is the record. Brother, sister today. And if you're a believer. If you've trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ.

[17:48] For your eternal salvation. He's given it to you. You have it. Present sense possession. It's good news. It's a record that brings joy. Joy.

[18:00] To our heart. Now, there's some believers that they seem to have a joy missing.

[18:11] There's not a joy there. 1 John 1.4 This is a verse that you can take heart in too. 1 John 1.4 And these things we write unto you that your joy may be full.

[18:23] The Bible's been written for you that your joy may be full. So if your joy level is a bit lagging, a bit lacking today. And I know I can feel like that. We all can.

[18:34] If your joy is feeling like it's running a bit empty. These things are written that your joy may be full. So if your joy level is low. Maybe you need to increase your word level.

[18:47] Increase your word level. Amen. I was encouraged just thinking about that. Just driving off to this convention. Yesterday, I was sort of flicking through my Bible as I was driving. Going to get some last minute inspiration.

[19:00] But I just noticed that. That if your word level is low, your joy level will be low. These things are written unto you that your joy may be full.

[19:10] Full joy. Fullness of joy. This is the record. This is the record. Amen. This is the victory that overcomes the world. This is the record. Faith brings eternal life.

[19:23] And lastly, 5.14. And this is the confidence. This is the confidence that we have in him. That if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.

[19:35] And if we know that he hear us, we know whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. We know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

[19:49] And this word know has got the sense of we have an absolute knowledge. There's a sure thing again here. This is the confidence. This is an assurance. This is a confident assurance that we can know and have.

[20:02] A boldness that we can have. That if we ask anything, now there's a clause there, according to his will. He heareth us. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

[20:21] There's a confidence that you can have. Brother, sister today, when you pray, your prayers will be heard. If they're according to his will, you can have a confidence in God that your prayers are heard somewhere in the beyond where he is.

[20:38] He's hearing every word. Isn't that a joy? Isn't that a blessing to you? I know there's prayer warriors here, prayerful people. People in prayer meetings, in pre-pray, pre-service prayer, in personal prayer, in family prayer, in closet prayer.

[20:59] He hears those prayers. He hears that prayer. It might seem like it's bouncing off the ceiling sometimes because the devil would want to send his darts at you and stop you from praying.

[21:11] But keep on praying. Persevering prayer. Praying without ceasing. We can have confidence in God, confidence in the power of prayer. He hears us. A man called Bounds wrote an encouraging book about prayer.

[21:25] It's a bit of a classic. And he said this. He says, When the church, what the church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organisations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use, men of prayer.

[21:45] Men mighty in prayer. That should encourage you. Pray, brother. Pray, sister. We need to pray. We need to enter in. And these are great, exceeding great and precious promises.

[21:58] It says in 2 Peter 1.4, things are great, exceeding great and precious promises. Believe us today. This is the confidence that if we ask anything according to his will, prayer is a sure thing.

[22:14] Don't forget to pray. Like the song goes, don't forget to pray. We can have confidence when we pray, he hears. And you can rest assured in his ability.

[22:25] When you're at the end of your strength, reach out to his. And maybe don't wait until it gets to that point. Ask him to help you meantime.

[22:36] Our Heavenly Father, he's on the throne of grace. He's on the throne still. He's still seated there. He's still listening there. He's waiting for your prayer. And we can boldly come, it says in Hebrews 4.16.

[22:48] We have access. Access to the Heavenly Father. Access to the heavenlies. Access to the Holy of Holies. Let us come.

[22:59] Therefore, let us come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Boldly come.

[23:11] Boldly come. Come confidently. Come assuredly. Boldly. Boldly. Christian today. Are you in defeat?

[23:24] This is the victory. This is the victory that overcomes the world. Either our faith. Leave defeat. And travel to victory.

[23:37] Are you in doubt today? This is the record. This is the record. This is the record. You have. Have. Eternal. Life.

[23:49] Faith. Don't walk in doubt. Move from doubt to faith. Are you in despair today? Maybe things aren't as you'd like them to be.

[24:03] It never is really, is it? This is the confidence. This is the confidence that we have in him. And if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

[24:19] Move from despair to prayer. Let us pray. Lord Jesus, we love you. We glorify your holy name. We thank you, dear Lord God.

[24:30] The wonder of Calvary makes heaven possible for each one that trusts you. And Lord, we can have that wonderful peace with God that passeth all understanding. That keeps our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

[24:43] We praise you, Lord, for your word. It's a record we can count on. That faith that you grant is a gift. That gives us everlasting life by your mercy and grace in the present day.

[24:55] In the here and now. We don't have to wait for the hereafter, Lord. We know it's a present day joy that we have that confidence of prayer too. To come to you.

[25:06] Let us not neglect to pray. Lord, help us to reach out. When despair seems all about, let us turn to prayer, Lord. That we can find your hand to help. That we can find your ear to hear.

[25:18] Lord, that we can know that our very words are heard in your ear. Lord, we thank you for that wonder. That access that is made possible to boldly come.

[25:30] Lord, we praise you. We love you. Help each one as we live. That that daily walk, it won't be a daily grind. But it will be a daily walk with the Saviour.

[25:41] A daily walk in the light. A daily walk by faith. A daily walk with you. In your footsteps. As you give us grace and strength to. In Jesus' name.

[25:52] Amen. Amen.